Material handling mechanism



N. D. LEVIN ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM K April 16, 1935.

Filed Aug. 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l Mnl hl HI El..- Wfl f ll El mul El Fal rml El F'ml El all al. @I E..- El ll uw' um' FILI El nl I EL- El und' im..- HUI @nl E CU mb.

/v VEN Tof? S N//s D. Lev/f?.

- andg Edu/ard G Lew/'5.

N. D. LEVIN ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April `16, 1935.

Filed Aug. ,19, 1930 April 16, 1935.

N. D. LEVIN El AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANI SM Filed Aug. 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 43 5o 53 sca Scl April 16, 1935. N, D LEVIN ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Filed A'ug. 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 f- 1,9979i5g0.

UNITEDVSTATES PATENT oFFicg y Nils D. Levin and Edward G. Lewis, Columbus,

Ohio, assignors to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 19, 1930, Serial No. 476,390 Y 8 Claims. (Cl. 198-7) The present invention relates to a loading mais secured a ring l1. A frame r turn-table i8 has chine and particularly to such amachine adapted a bottom wall I9 provided with an aperture in to be moved about a mine over the mine tracks which ring I1 is engaged to form a pivotal guide andwhile positioned thereon, to load out material for the platform. Aring 20 superposed on ring 5 from the various workings. e Y I'I overlies the margins of the aperture in wall i3 5 The general characteristics of the new mat0 prevent any Substantial upward H10-vement Of chine are the same as those described in connecframe I8 relative to the platform I5. tion with the machine covered in United States A motor 2| is mounted on frame I 8 with its application, Ser. No. 448,626, led'Aprill 30, 1930, armature shaft extending transversely thereof,

10 the present application relating to various imthe armature shaft having secured thereon a 10'.

provements in the design and relation of parts. sprocket 22 which through a chain 23 drives a A machine embodying the improvements in ilsprocket 24 mounted on a shaft 25 parallel to the lustrative form is shown in the accompanying armature shaft. The upper run 0f chain 23 is drawings wherein Y engaged by an idler pulley 26 as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine as a At its end opposite sprocket 24, shaft 25 has fixed 15 i. whole; thereto a second sprocket which engages a chain Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the front end of 21 (Fig. 5) t0 dIVe e SDIOCket. 23, Xed t0 e hub the machine on an enlarged scale; 29, Which is freely revoluble on a shaft 3-3 jour-` Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe rear end'of the naled inthe upper portion `of frame I3 in parallel machine on an enlarged scale; relation to shaft 25. A shiftable clutch element 3l Fig. 4 is a plan view of a medial portion ofthe is splined on shaft 30 and is provided with'teeth machine; 32 adapted to engage teeth 33 formed on hub 29 Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; so-that the rotation of the latter may be imparted Figt is a section on line 6-6 of Fig, 7; v to shaft 30. Fixed on shaft 3i! within and adja- Fig. 7 isa view of certain mechanism appearing cent the side walls of frame I8 is a pair of sprcckg5 on a smaller scale in Fig. 3; ets 34 and 35 which are adapted to engage the Fig. 8 is a plan View of a pony truck forming lower runs of chains 36 and 3l which traverse a part of the new machine; and the full length of the discharge conveyor B and Fig. 9 is a side'elevation` of the pony truck of are interconnected by means 0f material engaging 3 Referring to the drawings and particularly to A shaft 39 is journaled in frame i8 below shaft- Fig. 1, A designates generally a self-propelledl 3Q and Parallel theret0 Hub. 29 has Ol'meCl truck which supports a conveyor B for .pivotal thereon a- Sprocket 40 Connected by means of a movement about both vermoeiend horizontal axes, Chain 4I with a sprocket 42 Xed in the end ef- 551 the conveyor B being composed of two sections B'- shaft` 39. Freely revoluble on shaft 39 directly 3` and B relatively adjustable about a transverse ebOVe aperture i3 iS e SheaVe 43 With which is horizontal axis as will be described hereinafter. engaged e universally leXble Chain 4@ Wheh iS Pivotally supported at the front end of the con- DeSSed downwardly through epeltule le `eurlfl Veyor B, whichV will be termed the discharge thence forwardly and rearwardly around sheaves `4.o. conveyor, isa gathering conveyor C which, for Vand 45 in engagement With sheaves as at @il 40 transportation over the mine tracks, is adapted Xed t0 eXleS I3 and |4- SheelVe 43 has formed t0 be supported on a, pony truCk'D, a, Section thereon clutch te'eth 48 adapted to be engaged of mine track being shown atE. by clutch teeth 49 formed on a shiftable clutch The discharge conveyor and its supporting truck member splined on shaft 39. Thus when shaft are substantially the same as described in United 39 iS CllVeIl and Cluteh teeth 48 and 49 are en- .1.; states application, ser. No. 386,647, filed August geged, Wheels Il and I2 will be driven through 17, 1929, in the United States Patent Office, some chain 44, the drive being effective throughout a additions and changes having been made to ac- CODSldeIable fange 0f yangularV edjuetment Off commodate the unit to its present use. frame I8 relative to the platform I5 due to the to Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6,j universal flexibility ofthe chain 44. 50 truck Avcemprises a frame lsupnorted on wheels one end of shaft 39 isjournaied in a sleeve `li and i2 mounted on axles I3 and I4, the wheels bearing 5I fixed in frame I8. Inwardly of this being designed for engagement with the minel bearing, shaft 39 has fixed thereon a housing ve2' track. Mounted on frame I0 is aplatform I5 profor a thrust bearing53 which is interposed bei. vided with an aperture I on whose upper margins tween the housing and the inner end of bearing 5|. Splined on the end of shaft 39 outwardly of the bearing 5| is a cone-faced friction clutch member 54. Engaged co-axially in member 54 is a screw threaded nipple 55 which at its inner end is adapted to bear against the end of shaft 39. A cap screw 56 passes through nipple 55 and is threaded in a bore in the end of shaft 39 to prevent axial displacement of the nipple relative thereto. By loosening the cap screw and turning the nipple relative to shaft 39, element 54 may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft and when the proper adjustment has been obtained, the nipple may be locked by tightening the cap screw.

Freely revoluble on shaft'39 between-bearing 5| and clutch element 54 is a winding drum 51 having formed thereon a conical flange 58 adapted to cooperate with clutch element 54, a cylindrical brake flange 59 being provided at the other side of the drum. Interiorly of flange 59 is a radial flange 69 engaged with a slight lost motion in an annular groove 6| formed in a sleeve 62 revolubly mounted on the outer end of bearing sleeve 5I. Engaged between an inwardly projecting radial rib 63 of sleeve 62 and the adjacent end of drum 51 is a thrust bearing 64.

Sleeve 62 is provided with diametrically opposite studs 65 and 66 engaged in the slotted ends of arms 61 and 68 of a shipper member which is pivoted on a pin 69, Mounted parallel to pin 69 in bearings 10 and 1| and on the opposite side of shaft 39 is a rocking shaft 12 having at its lower end an eccentric pin 13 engaged in the slotted end of a prolongation 68 of arm 68. A lever '|4 is fixed to the upper end of shaft 12 and intermediate bearings 19 and 1|, a torsion spring 15 surrounds the shaft, one end of the spring being secured to bearing 1| and the other end to a washer 16 which is fixed to the shaft. When shaft 12 is rocked in a clockwise direction, the shipper member is swung against the action of spring 15 to move the winding drum through the intermediary of thrust bearing 84 to engage the external friction clutch element 58 with the internal element 54 to cause rotation of the winding drum with shaft 39. Bearing 53 carries the thrust thus imposed on shaft 39. Upon release of lever 14, spring 15 causes the disengagement of the clutch elements due to the engagement of ange 69 in groove 6| of the shipper-controlled sleeve 62. Y

Journaled in a bracket 16 in parallel relation to shaft 39 is a pin 11 on which is oscillably mounted a lever 18. A brake band 19 has one of its ends secured to pin 11 and passes thence around brake flange 59 of drum 51, the other end of the band terminating in a lug 80. Lever 18 (Fig. 6) has integral therewithV a bracket-like portion 18', this portion and the lever proper supporting a pin 8| in parallel spaced relation to pin 11. An eye bolt 82 is engaged by pin 8| and has its threaded shank portion passed through an aperture formed in lug 80. Between lug and a nut 83 at the end of the eye bolt is interposed a compression spring 84, an abutment nut 85 being screwed on the shank of the eye bolt to the other side of lug 89 fromfspring 84. Adjustment of band 19 and spring 84 is obtained through adjustment of nuts 83 and 85. A torsion spring 86 surrounds pin 11 at one side of lever 18, one of its ends engaging the bottom of bracket 16 and the other engaging pin 8| as shown in Fig. 7

Adjacent the upper end of lever 18, a number of teeth 81 are formed, these being engageable by a pawl 88 mounted on a pin 89. At its extreme upper end, lever 18 is provided with a handle 9U projecting in parallel relation to pin 11.

With pawl 88 disengaged from teeth 81, brake band 19 is released through the action of spring 86. When lever 18 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, the band is tightened with a cushioned effect due to spring 84, it being understood that tension is applied to the band through this spring. Pawl 88 may be thrown in cooperative relation to teeth 81 to maintain the brake band taut. In any event, when lever 18 is released, spring 86 acts to loosen the band and thus release the winding drum. Inasmuch as the brake flange 59 is axially shiftable with drum 51, the flange is made of s'uflicient Width so as to be always in full cooperative relation with band 19.

From the above description, it will be seen that motor 2| is adapted to drive the conveyor chains 36 and 31 when the clutch teeth 32 and 33 are engaged and is adapted to drive the truck wheels and the winding drum through shaft 39 when the clutches 48, 49 and 54, 58 are engaged. While all the power trains may be driven simultaneously if such operation should, by chance, become necessary, the important point is that each of the three drives may be effected entirely independently, However, simultaneous operation of the conveyor and drum drives is an essential feature in the loading operation of the machine, as will hereinafter appear, and this, of course, is effected by the engagement of clutches 32, 33 and 54, 58. Further, simultaneous drive of the truck wheels and the winding drum is desirable as when it is desired to assist the machine up an incline by means of a tension member engaged with the drum. As another importan possibility, when negotiating a decline, the motor may be shut off and, clutches 48, 49 and 54, 58 being engaged, brake band 19 may be tensioned to brake the truck wheels.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be noted that the adjacent portions of conveyor sections B and B constitute an inclined portion having at its upper end a substantially horizontal prolongation and at its lower end another substantially horizontal extension adjacent'the mine track. To each side of section B, and at its upper end is attached an arm of which one is shown at 9| (Fig. 3), the arms extending along the adjacent end of conveyor section B and supporting a pin 92 upon which section B is oscillably mounted. Each arm 9| has a threaded rod 93 pivoted to its extremity, each rod being provided at its end with a nut 94 and being engaged in an aperture in a bolster 95 which extends beneath section B. Each rod 93 has a compression spring 96 mounted thereon between the bolster and nut. Section B is thus resiliently supported on bolster 95 and its position relative to section B may be adjusted as desired by appropriate adjustment of nuts 94. The conveyor as a whole is supported for movement about shaft 38 so that its lower end may rest upon the track E or may be elevated for transportation. An apron |93 is so disposed as to guard the lower runs of the conveyor chains from interference with the underlying parts of the machine.

At the forward end of the inclined conveyor portion are secured plates 91 and 9E each of which has a forward horizontal portion extending transversely of the conveyor and provided with a plurality of apertures as at 99 and |88, in which may be engaged pins |6| and |92 to project below the shoes into lateral engagement with the track rails to prevent lateral displacement of the con- 1,997,596' veyor. v -At its rear end plate 9T supports a'pairy a panel |09 upon which are arranged the variousl electrical controlappliances.' Arm |08 also revolu-` bly supports at its upper end a vsheave on a horizontal axis and spaced inwardly ofthe sheave (Fig. 4), the arm is provided with "parallel jaws revo-lubly mounted on a bracket I |3"on` an upright axis. Y

To the forward endjof conveyor section B is pivoted on a pivot member I|4 disposed on the central longitudinal line of the conveyor section, a bracket or mounting member 5 comprising angular sections I5 and I The bracket is capable of swinging from one sideof the forward endl of section B" to the other. A horizontal angle bar I I 8 secured adjacent the extremity of bracket portion has a depending lug n| I9 adapted to engage behind an arcuate rail formed on a flange 2| secured to the conveyor section end,

Ho rail |20 having pivot member ||4 as its center.

Extending transversely of the upper end of 'portion I I1 opposite angle bar |8 is a channel member 1|22, while at the lower extremity of portion is fixed a shoe |23.

As may be seen mostV clearly from Fig. 2, the

gathering conveyor C comprises a'normally horizontal portion C and an inclined portion C". A'

base plate I124 extends throughout conveyor C and has disposed thereon suitable guide members as at I and |26 for an endless conveyor chain |21 The flexible both horizontally and vertically. conveyor chain is adapted to advance along one side of plate |24 and return along the other.

Flights |28 attached to the chain at intervals arer adapted to engage material and move it along the base plate and discharge it from the upper extremity of the inclined section. Flights |28 are freely exposed laterally on Yportion C of conveyor, material retaining side walls |29 and |30 being provided along the inclinedxedges of;sec

tion C.

The conveyor head shaft |3| n xed thereto and engaging chain |2`|Y to drive the latter, afoot-sprocket being Yarranged on shaftY |32. Alsofixed on shaft |3| is a bevel gear |33 extremity of which is an upright post |31 provided with an aperture |38 and ity |39. y Y

Adjacent head shaft |3| plate |24 has secured thereto a bracket having spaced sidewalls of abifurcated extremwhich one is shown at |40 (Fig. 2) 'jprojecting downwardly and adapted to receive vchannel' |22 between them. Walls |40 are perforated to receive a removable pin |4| which is adapted to extend through channel |22 to unite the gathering conveyor C with mounting member |l5, a1- ready described.

It will be evident that conveyor C may be adjusted relative to-conveyorB about an axis de'- fined by pivot member I4 and about a horizontal axis defined by pin |4|.- Due to the spaced Prelation of pin |4| to the top and bottom walls of channel |22, conveyor- C may also-be adjusted Directly opposite arm |08 a sheave ||2 is has a sprocket relative to conveyor B about a longitudinally extending axis. The upper end of conveyor C is normally supported on the upper end of bracket portion Von a rocking block or bolster |42.

` In operation, portionY C of the gathering conveyor C assumes the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein it is adapted torest directly on the mine floor and to be swung thereover in the manner which has been described in my application rst mentioned'above. When the machine is to be transported, however, the gathering conveyor is supported on the pony truck -D as. shown in Fig. l. f The pony truck D, as most clearly shown in Figs. 8 and- 9, comprises a pair of axles I 43 and |44 upon which are mounted wheels |45 and |45,

the axles being joined by means of a frame hillV composed of VVangle bars of sufficient width to bring their top surfacesv substantially to the tops of thelwheels |45 and |46. Exactly centrally of frame |4`|is mounted a vertical pin |48 having a rounded extremity and concentrically with the pin'is mounted aring |49 of 'relatively large diameter. `Struts and |5| are interposed between the overhanging ring portions and axles |43 and |44,While struts |52 and 53 are interposed between the axles andi the central member of frameV |41. Adjacent the lower extremity of portion C ofthe gathering conveyor isixed an invertedcup-like member |54 on the central longitudinal line of-the conveyor. f

'When the machine is to be moved about the mine the gathering conveyor is tilted about pin |4|, the pony truck "placed thereunder and pin |48 engaged in cup |54. Pin |48 is of such height as would enable it to support' the gathering conveyor with portion C thereof spaced above ring |49 parallel relation to the plane of thelatter. However, due tothe disposition of cup y|54 relative to the length of conveyor C the forward portion of the latter overbalances the rear portion elevating the forward end of conveyor B through the described connection and bringing the parts to the position shown in Fig. 1, plate |24, forward of cup |54, resting on ring |49. Thus in transporting the machine, the weight of conveyor C and of the forward end of con- Veyor'B isdivided betweenpin |48 and ring 49, this relation being maintained in all angular positions of conveyor C relative to the truck.

Inasmuch as the gathering conveyor is of considerable weight, it is desirable to provide motor operated means for elevating it into such position as to enable the pony truck to be placed thereunder. A casting |55 secured to base plate |24 forwardly of head shaft |3I, has a pair of spaced upwardly projecting ears |56 and |51 which support a pin |58 which extends transversely of the plate, see Figs. 2 and 4. A member |59 comprising two parallel arms is pivoted at one end on pin |58 and at its other end has a bail |60 pivoted thereto by `means of a pin I 6|. A guy member preferably in the form of a iiexible cable |62 secured to the bail is passed forward through aperture |38 of post |31 and secured, the cable when taut permitting member |59 to take the position shown in Fig. 2. Intermediate the upper ends of the arms comprising member |59 a block |53 is mounted on pin |6I, this block revolubly supporting Va pair of sheaves |64 and |55. A tubular member |65 is pivoted at- |6`| to a casting on the motor frame and projects 'forwardly between the arms of member |50.V

Rearwardly of member |59, member |55 is provided with a downwardly projecting longitudinally slotted web |68 in the slot of which is engaged a removable pin |69 extending between and supported by the arms of member |59. Abutment of pin |69 with the lower end ,of the-slot of web |68 serves to hold member |59 in the upright position of Fig. 2 and also serves to hold member |66 in the position shown in Fig. 2, members |59 and |66 thus. acting as mutual props.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a rope or cable |16 is adapted to have one of its ends engaged with drum 51. 'I'hence the cable. is adapted to be trained forwardly over sheaveA I0, thence around sheave |65, rearwardly to and around sheave ||2, again forwardly and around sheave |64,v and finally rearwardly again-to be anchored between jaws It will be evidentthat upon rotation of drum 51 in the winding direction and consequent tensioning of rope |10, a substantially horizontally directed pull will be exerted on conveyor C above pivot pin |4| due to the attachment of block |63, which supports sheaves Y|64 and |65 to the upper end of member, |59. Tensioning of cable |62 arresting any tendency of member |56 to swing about pin |58, it will beevident that the forward end of conveyor C will be swung upwardly. After the pony truck has been'placed as has been above described, the tension on ropeV Verticallyv reciprocable in bearings |1| and |12 on upright |01 is a tubular member |13 having a horizontal projecting upper extension |14A whose extremity is outwardly flared. Conductor cable |15 is trained through the tubular housing constituted byportions |13 and |14 and thence is passed through tubular member |66 to the motor,

the free extremity of member |66 being outwardly iiared. During operation .of the gathering con-- veyor it is desired that-the cable portion intermediate the two tubular supports be elevated so as not to interfere with the passage of-material from one conveyor to the other and such disposition is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, member |66.

being maintained in the position shown by the means already described. `Bearing |1|, on the other hand, is provided with a yrecess |16 adapted to be engaged by la lug |11on tubular member |13, the lug, when'so positioned, being engageable by a latch |18 hung on bearing |1|. It will be evident that the walls ofl-the recess engaging the lug prevent rotation of element |13 and thereby prevent accidental disengagement of the lug from the latch, the latter serving to hold the tubuiar guide element in the position of upward adjustment shown in Fig, 3.

|78 is swung to release lug |11, whereupon guide member |13 drops to theposition shown in Fig. 1 wherein it is arrested due to engagement of lug |11 with the bearing |12. Removal of pin |69 from the slot of web |68 permits member |59 to swing forwardly and somewhat downwardly and at the same time permits member |66 to swing downwardly, thereby considerably decreasing the serving as a compression member holding the Vintermediate portion of the flexible draft device clear of the upper end of the delivery end of the gathering conveyor.

AVariousmaneuvering possibilities of the machine for the purpose of gatheringmaterial have been described in the application first mentioned above and need not be repeated here. Attention may merely be called to the fact that rope |10, due to the stud mounting of sheaves |0, l2, |64, and |65, may be quickly dismounted therefrom and engaged with sheaves |04 or sheaves |05 and |06 to effect swinging of the gathering conveyor. The pony truck herein disclosed is claimed in the copending sole application of Lewis, Serial No. 606,995, led April 22, 1932.

It will be understood that while we have described a specific embodiment of our invention, many structural modifications are possible and are contemplated under the invention. Accordingly, it will be understood that we do not limit ourselves in this respect except as stated in the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a horizontally extending conveyor pivoted at its delivery end to said supporting frame for swinging adjustment relative thereto about a horizontal axis, an upright arm pivoted at its lower end to said conveyor on an axis extending transversely of the conveyor adjacent the delivery end thereof, a guy element extending between the upper end of the arm and the receiving end of the conveyor, flexible draft means in connection withv the upper end of vsaid arm, means disposed on said supporting frame operable to tension said draft means and guy element and thereby swing said arm and therewith the conveyor about said horizontal axis, and a strut pivoted at one end to the conveyor and at the other. engaged with said arm through a pin and slot connection of which the slots extends longitudinally of the conveyor for retaining said arm in upright position when said draft means is untensioned. v

2. In a machine of the class described, a supporting frame, a horizontally extending conveyor pivoted at its delivery end to said supporting frame for swinging-adjustment relative thereto about a horizontal axis, an upright arm pivoted at its lower end to said conveyor on an axis extending transversely ofl the conveyor adjacent the delivery end thereof, a guy element extending between the upper en d of the arm and the receiving end of Athe conveyor, flexible draft meansin connection with the upper end of said arm, means disposed on said supporting frame f operable to tension said draft means and guy eie- Ni/hen the machine is to beftransported, latchv ment and thereby swing said arm and therewith the conveyor about said horizontal axis, and a strut pivoted at one end Ato the conveyor and at the other engaged with said arm through a pin and slot connection for retaining said arm in upright-position when said draft means is untensioned, the pin being removable from the slot to permit said arm` to swing out of its normal upright position and to permit the free end of the strut to move to a lowered position.

3. In a machine of the class described, a Wheeled supporting frame adapted to be positioned on and travel over a mine track, an elongated discharge conveyor pivotally supported on said frame for adjustment about an upright axis, a gathering conveyor having its delivery. end pivotally supported by and above the receiving end of the discharge conveyor for swinging movements relative thereto about horizontal and upright axes, a winding drum mounted in connection with said discharge conveyor on an axis fixed with respect to said discharge conveyor, an upwardly projecting member mounted on said gathering conveyor at the delivery end of the latter, a cable readily disconnectibly connected to said upwardly projecting member and having a portion windable on said drum, and means for driving said drum to tension said cable and thereby swing the gathering conveyor about its horizontal axis.

Ll. In a machine of the class described, a wheeled supporting frame adapted to be positioned on and travel over a mine track, an elongated discharge conveyor pivotally supported on said frame for adjustment about an upright axis, a gathering conveyor having its delivery end pivotally supported by and above the receiving end of the discharge conveyor for swinging movements relative thereto about horizontal and upright axes, a winding drum mounted in connection with said discharge conveyor on an axis fixed with respect to said discharge conveyor, an upwardly projecting member mounted on said gathering conveyor at the delivery end of the latter, a sheave mounted on an upright stud at the upper end oi said upright member, a cable having a loop freelyengageable with and disengageable from said sheave, one end of said cable being anchored in connection with said discharge conveyor and the other end being'windable on said drum, and means for driving the drum to tension said cable and thereby swing the gathering conveyor about its horizontal axis.

5. In a machine of the class described, a wheel supporting frame adapted to be positioned on and travel over a mine track, an elongated discharge conveyor pivotally supported on said frame for adjustment about an upright axis, a gathering conveyor having its delivery end pivotally supported by and above the receiving end oi the discharge conveyor for swinging movements relative thereto about horizontal and upright axes, a winding drum mounted in connection with said discharge conveyor on an axis iixed with respect to said discharge conveyor, an upwardly projecting member mounted on said gathering conveyo-r at the delivery end of the latter, a rearwardly extending block pivoted onv the upper end of said upright member on an extending transversely of said gathering conveyor, a stud supported sheave on top of said block, a cable having a loop freely engageable with and disengageable from said sheave, one end of said cable being anchored in connection with said discharge conveyor and the other endV being Windable on said drum, and means for driving the drum to tension said cable and thereby swing the gathering conveyor about its horizontal axis, said block moving about its pivoting axis to maintain the sheave axis always substantially perpendicular to the plane of said loop portion when the cable is tensioned.

6. In a machine of the class described, a wheeled supporting frame adapted to be positioned on and travel over a mine track, an elongated discharge conveyor pivotally supported on said frame for adjustment about an upright axis, a gathering conveyor having its delivery end pivotally supported by and above the receiving end of the discharge conveyor for swinging movements relative thereto about horizontal and upright axes, a winding drum mounted in connection with said discharge conveyor on an axis iixed with respect to said discharge conveyor, anupwardly projecting member mounted on said gathering conveyor at the delivery end of the latter, said upwardly projecting member being pivotal relative to said gathering conveyor on an axis extending transversely of the latter, a guy member connecting the upper end of said upwardly projecting member and the forward end of said gathering conveyor, a cable readily disengageably connected to said upwardly projecting member and having a portion windable on said drum, and means for driving said drum to tension said cable and thereby swing the gathering conveyor about its horizontal axis.

7. In a machine of the class described, a Wheeled supporting frame adapted to be positioned on and travel over a mine track, an elongated discharge conveyor pivotally supported on said frame for adjustment about an upright axis, a gathering vconveyor having its delivery end pivotally supported by and above the receiving end of the discharge conveyor for swinging movements relative thereto about horizontal and upright axes, a winding drum mounted in connection with said discharge conveyo-r on an axis xed with respect to said discharge conveyor, an upwardly projecting member mounted on'said gathering conveyor at the delivery end of the latter, said upwardly projecting member being pivotal relative to said gathering conveyor on an axis extending transversely of the latter, a guy member connecting the upper end of said upwardly projecting member and the forward end of said gathering conveyor, a cable readily disengageably connected to said upwardlyr projecting member and having a portion windable on said drum, means for driving said drum to tension said cable and thereby swing the gathering conveyor about its horizontal axis, and releasible means for holding said upwardly projecting member in upright position when said cable is untensioned.

8. In a machine of the class described, a Wheeled supporting frame adapted to be positioned on and travel'over a mine track, an elongated discharge conveyor pivotally supported on said frame for adjustment about an upright axis, a gathering conveyor having its delivery end pivotally supported by and above the receiving end of the discharge conveyor for swinging movements relative thereto about horizontal and upright axes, a Vwinding drum mounted in connection with said discharge conveyor at one side of the latter and on an axis xed with respect to said discharge conveyor, an upwardly projecting member mounted on said gathering conveyor at the delivery end of the latter, a sheave supported by said upwardly projecting member at its upper end, a cable having a loop engaged with said sheave. one of the cable ends being windable on said drum and the other being an- 

